No Internet After Disconnecting Proton VPN
Quick answer
The advanced kill switch (called permanent kill switch in some Windows versions) blocks all internet whenever the VPN is off, even after a restart. Reconnect, or turn it off in Settings > Connection > Kill switch.
Most likely fix: Reconnect to a Proton VPN server
How to fix it
Try these in order — the most common fix is first.
1. Reconnect to a Proton VPN server
- Open Proton VPN and connect to any server
- Internet access returns as soon as the tunnel is up
Did this fix it?2. Switch to the standard kill switch or turn it off
- Open Settings > Connection > Kill switch
- Choose the standard kill switch (only blocks on accidental drops) or turn it off
- Click Reconnect or Apply
Did this fix it?3. Prevent Windows sign-in lockouts
- Create a local (offline) Windows account you can sign in with without internet
- Turn advanced kill switch off before a major Windows update, password change or BIOS update
Did this fix it?
Symptoms
After you disconnect or restart, nothing loads until Proton VPN is connected again. On Windows you may be unable to sign in to your Microsoft account.
Why it happens
- Advanced (permanent) kill switch is on and blocks traffic until a VPN connection is made
- Advanced kill switch stays active across reboots
- Windows sign-in needs internet after a password change, major update, reset or hardware change
This guide also covers
- proton vpn no internet after disconnect
- proton vpn kill switch no internet
- proton vpn permanent kill switch
- turn off proton vpn kill switch
Still not working?
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